Victoria will enter a “short, sharp circuit-breaker” lockdown for five days to respond to fears the highly infectious UK strain of coronavirus has spread throughout the community, Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed.
Key points:
Stage 4 restrictions will be in place across the entire state from midnight tonight until midnight on Wednesday
Mr Andrews says the UK coronavirus variant is “moving at a velocity” not seen elsewhere in Australia
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says the snap lockdown is to avoid a “potentially devastating” outbreak
From midnight tonight, all of Victoria will return to stage 4 lockdown restrictions, meaning there are only four main reasons to leave the home: shopping for essential supplies, care and caregiving, exercise and essential work.
Exercise and shopping will be limited to within 5 kilometres of the home.
Face masks will need to be worn indoors and outdoors if you are outside your own home, and no visitors will be allowed in homes.
Under the rules, schools and tertiary education will be closed, public gatherings are banned, people must work from home when they can, and weddings will be banned except for on compassionate grounds.
Places of worship and religious gatherings and ceremonies will not be permitted, and funerals will be capped at 10 people.
Mr Andrews confirmed people would be fined for breaches of the rules.
